The Hills are alive with the sound of our footsteps...

 

I have already ruined one pair of sandals. (sad face)

The rocks on the side roads are just brutal. 

 

 

 

 We walk about 10-12 miles when we don't take taxis. We literally go up one hill and then down the other side to get into town. If we're walking to the Kingdom Hall, then it's about 45 minutes uphill. The winds have really picked up. Sometimes they push me sideways. And sometimes I really have to lean into them. It's hard to get good pictures. Maybe we'll try video. Carl doesn't have near the problem as I do. The first leg of our walk doesn't have a sidewalk.  

 

 

 

This is what you do to catch a cab. It's like making a quacking gesture.

I don't know why, but it seems to work. If they pass you, then they will literally back up to pick you up. This guy had a long way to back up... but he did! 

 

 But mostly, we've been walking. It may seem silly when a cab or bus ride is only .60 each person. But that really adds up. So we save cab rides for when we're in service with some of the older ones, or if we have a lot of groceries. Afterall, payayas and pineapples really weigh you down. 

  Still going up. But we pick up some nice sidewalks. About three years ago they put in a new road, sidewalks and pedestrian overpasses. 

 

Still going up.

After we leave the Hall we have another 45 minute walk into town.

That's where we do most of our preaching/teaching. It's been fruitful territory for us. We've met a lot of people, local and expats. They are getting quite used to us. The police even wave to us. I think they call us "missionario loco" (crazy missionaries) Some of the merchants say to us in Spanish: I see you walking from very far. And then they smile. Most of the locals walk. So they like that we do what they do. Plus it's a two-fer. Service and exercise.

 

But, even though the sidewalks are nice... you must stay on your guard. Suddenly you veer.

And BE CAREFUL.

No curbs, no rails, nothing even remotely OSHA approved.

In the rainy season this is a rushing torrent.

 

  And here, while it's hard to tell, Carl is right next to this bus stop roof.

You cannot just look down, because here he would have lost his head.

I really think he would have been scalped, or worse.

It's very sharp metal.

 

 

Those are friends from our congregation.

 

And sometimes, the sidewalk just disappears. 

 

Or... A guide wire is right in the middle of the sidewalk.

 

This is the view of Boquete from the top.

 

 

 Finally we start down. 

 

Yay! Even with the wind blowing against us... down is really easy.

 

 

 

 

And then the sidewalk simply stops. This happens several times along the way.

 

 

 

This is the Gringo market on Tuesdays. We've met some nice people here. We're laying the groundwork. Service is different in that the English-speakers are very difficult to talk to sometimes. Some of then have built some pretty tough walls. You figure, they're here for a reason... usually trying to get away from something ... government, injustice, crime... and then they see us, Jehovah's People.... even here. Sometimes they need some time to accept that and then some of them warm up.

 

 This is in the market we call our second home. We have great conversations here. It's like a little niche in town where mostly locals set up. We've tried to get to know everyone here. I have a study with a girl here, a local Panamanian who speaks pretty good English.

And then the physical reward. This is the time of the Bajareque, which is the low mist. Apparently, this is also the time of "los arco iris", the rainbows. We had heard all about them and then I was beginning to think folks were crazy.... no rainbows anywhere. But yesterday, after walking about 12 miles... what a beauty. Its was better in person.